Houston's top spots for an outdoor workout

April 29, 2014 |By Roberta MacInnis. Photos by Andrea Waguespack.

Don't settle for a hotel fitness room or a run along a freeway feeder road. Houston has scenic parks and trails that offer peaceful respites from long days of networking. Here are a few suggestions, organized geographically.

Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

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DowntownDirectly west of the central business district is a pretty 5-mile loop — with opportunities for short cuts — that runs along both sides of Buffalo Bayou. A massive project now under construction is transforming the once-neglected green belt into an urban gem. The trail remains navigable, though the south portion is rough in spots. Look for the asphalt path close to the bayou, which is restricted to pedestrian use, unlike the 10-foot-wide concrete trail where bicycles, skateboards and strollers are welcome. It’s a little hilly, too. At the farthest point from downtown on the loop is the Shepherd Street bridge. An underpass leads to a sidewalk that will get you to Memorial Park, the heart of Houston’s running community, about 1.5 miles west of the bridge.

Information current as of January 27, 2015.

Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

1of16

DowntownDirectly west of the central business district is a pretty 5-mile loop — with opportunities for short cuts — that runs along both sides of Buffalo Bayou. A massive project now under construction is transforming the once-neglected green belt into an urban gem. The trail remains navigable, though the south portion is rough in spots. Look for the asphalt path close to the bayou, which is restricted to pedestrian use, unlike the 10-foot-wide concrete trail where bicycles, skateboards and strollers are welcome. It’s a little hilly, too. At the farthest point from downtown on the loop is the Shepherd Street bridge. An underpass leads to a sidewalk that will get you to Memorial Park, the heart of Houston’s running community, about 1.5 miles west of the bridge.